740.0011 European War 1939/25013: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:42 p.m.]
1571. For Admiral Leahy. Admiral Auphan, Minister of Marine, sent me a verbal message yesterday by Captain Sanson, head of the Deuxième Bureau of that Ministry.
Auphan is apparently worried by the recent intensive British press campaign regarding Dakar which he likens to the British press attitude which immediately preceded military intervention in Madagascar. He hopes that our Government would be willing to bring influence to bear on the British to avoid an attack on Dakar which according to Auphan is now strongly defended by mechanized troops and by fairly adequate aviation. Auphan considers that the Madagascan affair and our attitude in the Antilles did not really strike deeply home in France but that an attack on Dakar would provoke a “national reaction” and would arouse deep-rooted animosity against us throughout the whole of France. If Dakar were attacked, he wished me to know that it would be defended to the last ditch and that the garrison would fight to the end rather than surrender. Auphan particularly desired that you should be acquainted with his opinions as he feels certain that you will view them objectively.
Quite apart from any legitimate preoccupations as regards the preservation of the French Empire which he may have, I believe that we have a useful friend in Auphan whose influence on Laval has so far been in the right direction.
[Page 403]To my knowledge, Auphan has on two occasions taken a strong stand against the Germans which was illustrated by his attitude towards a proposed joint defense agreement for French Africa and his opposition to turning over French merchant shipping to Germany. (Our telegrams 1284, August 31, 8 p.m.,2 and 1416, September 24, 5 p.m.3)
Certain of our reliable contacts have expressed the opinion that an isolated occupation of Dakar without a successful landing in North Africa would serve no useful purpose and would only arouse the French population against us including many of our well wishers.